Submersible tunnel



Patented Nov. 24, 1936 OFMQE SUBMERSIBLE TUNNEL deceased Application August 15, 1934, Serial No. 739,346

3 Claims.

The invention relates to tunnels of the subaqueous type and has for its general object toprovide new and improved tunnel sections of that type, and in particular subaqueous tunnels constituted by one or more tunnel sections which are erected in part on land and preferably completed above the surface of the water, and are subsequently submerged and positioned on a proper subaqueous bed or trench. Where the tunnel is constituted by a plurality of sections these are successively sunk to position and joined end to end. Each of the sections is comprised of a closed body or tunnel section proper and buoyant shafts by which the sinking of the section to position is controlled. Each tunnel element or section comprises end closures such as diaphragms or bulkheads which preferably have outer plane faces to enable them to be properly joined and connected to contiguous sections. An example of tunnel structures of this type is disclosed in my prior Patent Number 1,910,997, granted May 23, 1933.

In connection with the construction and more particularly with the sinking and laying of submersible tunnel sections, the matter of developing longitudinal rigidity as well as longitudinal strength between the control shafts or supports near the ends is highly important and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide tunnel sections having requisite longitudinal rigidity. The solution of the problem is more difficult in tunnels of the rectangular or so-called subway type than in round or octagonal tunnels since the latter have, when properly reinforced, a requisite amount of girder strength or longitudinal rigidity per se. The tunnel sections to the improvement of which my invention is more particularly directed comprise a metallic or steel framework and an outer metallic steel casing or shell and such a shell attached as it is to the. tunnel structure at the sides of the rectangular sections imparts longitudinal strength thereto. In order however to build such rectangular steel framed and steel encased sections in lengths suflicient to make them economical and at the same time give them proper longitudinal interior strength before concreting, I have by the present invention provided a simplified and readily applicable means of giving the desired strength and rigidity without materially increasing the cost.

The preferred form of my invention will be more particularly described in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional View of a a tunnel element or section embodying the invention, the section being taken a short distance behind the end closure;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on a plane indicated by the section line 2--2 in Fig. 1

and looking in the direction of the arrows at said line; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the section line 33 in Fig. 1 and looking downward as indicated by the arrows, the supplemental central columns being omitted.

Referring to the drawing, as therein disclosed the tunnel section is rectangular in cross section although it is to be understood that its shape may be varied. The section indicated generally by the numeral It? comprises an exterior casing or shell made up of metallic flanged plates I l ar-- ranged longitudinally of the tunnel section. The plates comprised in the bottom of the section have their flanges l2 preferably upturned so that the bottom plates may lie flat against the ground or ways on which the section is erected, while the plates H comprised in the sides and top of the casing have their flanges l2 turned outward so 20 that they may be suitably riveted or otherwise joined together at their flanges on the outside. The bottom plates H are similarly connected at their upturned flanges within the body. The framework of the tunnel within the shell is pref erably of steel and concrete and is comprised of metallic beams 93 laid crosswise on the upturned flanges ll of the bottom and which support vertical side columns M which in turn at their tops support top metallic cross beams l5, thus constituting bents so-called transverse of the tunnel section and of which it is made up. The described parts of the framework are bolted, riveted or otherwise suitably connected together. Supplemental central columns as shown in Figure l and designated as A may be included in the general design, particularly where the tunnel is of the wide type.

The end closures as herein shown constitute diaphragms having smooth outer faces, these facial diaphragms being comprised by channel beams it having inwardly turned flanges i'i suitably connected together, said diaphragms being riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the end portion of the shell body. Webbed plates 58 rigid with the channel bars and projecting inward therefrom have vertical angle bars l9 secured to their inner ends and to these are attached transverse bracing and holding members or cross girders 2B and 2! near their tops and bottom.

The buoyant shafts for controlling the sinking of the tunnel sections are preferably arranged in pairs at or near opposite ends of the section. Each buoyant shaft indicated generally by the numeral 22 comprises an interior portion 23 extending vertically downward within the section and sealed at the bottom thereof, the upper end of the portion 23 terminating outside the tunnel section in a seat 2! to which is secured the lower end of the outside portion 25 of the buoyant shaft. These shafts as is well understood, permit the introduction of water or other means for overcoming the buoyancy of the tunnel section and sinking it to position under control.

In tunnel sections of which the one above de-- scribed is an example, it is desirable for economical and other reasons to make the sections of considerable length, and in order to prevent sagging during emplacement operations and to insure adequate strength and rigidity, I have devised means comprising in effect one or more longitudinal girders of simple and economical design which are aranged within the associate tunnel section and extend lengthwise thereof. Where the section is of such width as to require them, several of such girders may be employed, two being shown in the present instance, these being spaced apart widthwise of the section and extending in parallelism throughout its length, terminating at or near the end closures.

Each girder designated as a whole by the numeral 26 comprises a top beam 2'! and a bottom beam 28 of adequate strength and which may be steel I beams or shapes as herein shown. Ordinarily these beams will be supplied in lengths which are spliced rigidly together to make them continuously effective as the top and bottom chords of constituted longitudinal girders. These beams or chords are arranged one above the other and connected at suitably spaced intervals by vertical columns 29 which may be steel H beams or columns as herein shown. The columns 29 and the upper and lower beams 21 and 28 are rigidly secured together as by welding or rivets 30. These columns extend in a row lengthwise of and between the upper and lower chord members or beams 2'5 and 28 and together with said beams constitute longitudinal girders of which the columns 29 are the vertical compression members attached to the top and bottom beams.

Diagonal plates or straps 3| are provided constituting the equivalent of diagonal tension members of the girders. These straps 3| are secured in any suitable manner to the upper and lower beams 27 and 28. To this end, as herein shown, angle plates 32 may be riveted to the beams and the end portions of the straps 3! are riveted thereto as indicated at 33. Also the straps are preferably riveted to the columns 29 where they cross, as indicated at 3|a.

The girders thus constituted are rigidly secured to the top and bottom transverse beams and I3 comprised in the framework of the tunnel section. This may be effected in any suitable way. For example, as illustrated herein the upper flanges of the beams 2'! and 28 are welded or riveted as indicated at 34 to the contiguous flanges of the transverse beams I3 and I5. Also at their ends the girders are preferably connected to the end cross beams 20 and 2| as by angle plates 28a and Zia which are suitably riveted or otherwise rigidly secured both to the transverse bracing members or cross beams 20 and 2| and to the top and bottom beams 21 and 28. I have also found it desirable to reinforce the beams 27 and28 between the columns 29 and the transverse beams l3 and i5, and for this purpose plate stiffeners in the form of simple metallic angles 35 are introduced between the flanges of the beams 27 and 28 and secured to the webs thereof by rivets 36. It will be understood that the longitudinal girders 26 may be constructed or erected during the course of erection of the associate tunnel section in any manner found suitable and convenient.

After the completion of the tunnel section comprising the closing diaphragms, the cross bents and the girder or girders 26 and preferably following its launching and before its emplacement on its bed, a concrete envelope indicated at 30 is provided for the tunnel section proper as well as for the girders. The outlines of such envelope are indicated by the dot and dash lines designated as L in the drawing. Where the concrete envelope is applied before launching for towing or handling in rough water as may sometimes be the case, then the diagonal reinforcements such as 3| may in some instances be omitted, as the columns automatically become the tensile and the concrete the compressive members of the girder.

Besides providing for adequate longitudinal strength in submersible tunnel sections, the girders 25 serve another useful purpose, that is, their top and bottom beams 2'! and 28 may provide supports for intermediate transverse top and bottom beams 38 which may be required for cross-overs between separated traific lanes in the tunnel or where the interior span is so wide as to require additional supports afforded by such intermediate beams 38, avoiding the need of extending such beams across the comparatively short outer spans between the girders 26 and the columns I4, as well as obviating the need of extra columns which would be otherwise required for supporting the short intermediate beams.

Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In submersible tunnel sections comprising outer steel shells and provided with end closures, a plurality of longitudinal girders comprised by upper and lower continuous beams attached to the bottoms and top of columns extending between the beams and spaced apart longitudinally thereto, and diagonal members extending between the beams and angularly disposed to said columns, said continuous beams being connected to the shell of the tunnel section, said columns acting as vertical compressive members and said diagonal members giving tensile strength.

2. A submersible tunnel section comprising an outer steel shell having end closures, end side columns and roof and fioor cross beams within said shell, a plurality of longitudinal girders comprised by upper and lower continuous beams, said continuous beams being attached to the roof and floor cross beams, columns extending between said beams and attached thereto, said last recited columns being longitudinally spaced lengthwise of the beams, diagonal members extending between the beams and angularly disposed and attached to said last recited columns.

3. A steel encased submersible tunnel section comprised of lateral steel bents supported by girders constituted by longitudinal beams attached to the tops and bottoms of longitudinally spaced columns, the beams forming the top and bottom chords of said girders which extend longitudinally of the tunnel section and are spaced apart laterally of the section, said" girders being interposed between and attached to the lateral beams of the roof and floor of the structure, the steel bents and girders being concreted so that the columns form the tensile member of the girder and the concrete envelope forms its compressive member.

JAMES C. MEEM. 

